Friday, May 13, 2016

Rose Bonbon~

The week leading up to Mother's Day..Jacques had an appointment very close to our Costco..I had been saying..:"they should have kept their tulips under $10.00"..That mind set of $9.99 and they would sell more..like they used to be..they are $11.99 now..and I have not bought one bunch yet..since..but Jacques did that day..there are 2 bunches in the package..and they are quite spectacular for tulips that are not French or Parrot:)I have a big vase ..like a big goldfish vase..and they love it in there♥I had a big one..and it slipped out of my hands a couple of months ago..in the workshop..(cement floor)..shattered..I was quite taken aback by the fact that my fave vase was no more..then I found another..but huge..r..these double pack tulips love it.I look..ed at them so many times every day:)So so pretty in pink.And I saw Isabelle's post about the PERFECT chocolate chip cookies..I HAVE 10 Perfects..:)But we had guests..Littles..and I thought : "try hers.."and maybe they are not THE BEST..But they are in that top 10 THE BEST..so I guess they are part of THE BEST:)I ♥ them..and so easy and delicious..and I love them more the next day!For 2 dozen cookies,courtesy of Isabelle@Les Gourmandises d'Isa~1/2 cup unsalted butter,room temp..(I use salted)1/2 packed brown sugar6 tbsps sugar1 large egg1 tsp vanilla extract (I use paste)1 1/2 cup flour1 tsp baking soda1/2 tsp salt 2 1/4 cup choco chips.Pre-heat oven to 350In your KA mixer w/ the whisk attachment beat butter and sugars 2 minutesAdd egg and vanilla and beat at low speed until homogenousChange to the large beater and incorporate the flour,bs and salt that you have sifted before,and the choco chips.Using a tbsp make dough balls about the size of a large nut..I used my scoop.Place on your baking sheet (I use Silpat) and leave 2 inches between.Bake 13-15 minutes until the egdges are lightly golden.Remove and let cool for 5 minutes before placing on a cooling rack~ Spring is finally surfacing w/greenery...slowly.. but surely..and the trilliums are just beautiful this time of year..Pulmonaria ,aka ..lungwort(what a name)..ferns..scillas,vinca,forget-me-nots,magnolias,peonies ..all surfacing..it really is a pretty pretty time of the year!The porch ferns are bought and hung..another basket..some geraniums..at one point it should all come together..I'll be acclimatizing plants I seeded indoors..to get comfy enough for the big move....chaque chose en son temps~

It all looks beautiful. I'm back at the farm and had to leave all the gardens back in the city. I am still waiting to see what comes up. It is really hard trying to plant in someone else's garden when you don't know what is going to come up. The peonies have come and gone and so many were huge and wouldn't stand up. Gorgeous though. It will be ongoing and I just hope the garden stores still have annuals when I see what is there. My favorite chocolate chip recipe uses milk chocolate chips. Have a beautiful weekend.

Monique, Spring has arrived in your garden! The flowers look so pretty! I love this time of year, the heat hasn't begun in San Diego. So, I'm enjoying the cool mornings and all the color in the garden. Happy gardening this weekend too!Hugs, Jody 🌷

Looking lovely. I love Peonies , but never had much luck with, when I bought mine it showed a pale pink flower on the label, when it bloomed it was red, They never last very long as it always rains and they get bashed down, I'm sure we both said the same this time last year. I'm sure you must know every choc-chip cookie recipe there is so I'll take your advice and follow your best recommended recipe. I still haven't planted up my baskets its been cold and raining all the annuals will have gone by the time I start.

Monique, how wonderful to see your garden coming alive! I love, love, love this post. What a HUGE vase! You are right, like a fish bowl, and so perfect for those beautiful tulips. So sad you broke your favourite vase though, but the tulips look right at home where they are. I used to have to bake chocolate chip cookies once a week at least when I worked at the manor. I had a special recipe I used that had even the gardening staff sneaking in to steal a cookie now and again. The smell of them baking used to drive the house crazy with lust for them, lol. I have not made them in a while now. I think I need to bake some for the missionaries so I can steal one to enjoy. Naughty me! Hope you have a lovely weekend! xoxo

I bet life took a very bad turn for the worse when you left the Manor..

it's all coming together Marie..but it seems slow this year..only garlic is wow.So far.I must enjoy each day and live in the moment in my gardens and not hurry the time along longing for fullness quite yet.Savor the moment right?;)

See how quickly you catch up? Look at that lovely green borrowed landscape :) I hate when I break things like that! I'm glad you found a pretty replacement and the tulips are gorg. So many similar things going on now here and there. I should be outside pulling weeds :) If only one time would do the trick! I just made chocolate chip cookie dough to bake with the boys tomorrow. Isa cookies look great too. I know, who ever came up with the name Lungwort - LOL.

yesterday Lucas asked..:'Did you bake"? I said yes but let me show you..it was an apple pie..he said no..what if I don't like it? " I said"If you don't like it grandad will eat your piece.." he passed on it:) Cookies are the real deal after school..look at these..http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2016/05/confetti-cookies/

We have a Noah afternoon this week..I am thinking those..however I think I Pinned ten other recipes this week for them.A little sweet from Nana..It turns us into cookie bakers being nanas don't you find?

It rained today ..we need it..it's not pretty yet;)

LOL I had cut up pineapple that Lucas loves and I offered some to Oli..Lucas said :"remember you gagged on it?"

I said :"just lick it Oli.. and see "..he did..then he took a bite..then had several!:)

I hate it when I break something that has been with me for a long time, but my mother-in-law always said, "use it and love it while you have it." She was a military wife, and I suspect she lost many lovely things as she crossed the country and the ocean all the while packing up four boys and a household. The tulips are gorgeous! I bought some for Mother's Day Weekend, but they didn't last all that long. The magnolia trees are beginning to bloom, so now we have a big white magnola bloom in a vase where the tulips had been. '-)Will not let myself make he cookies for without question, I would eat every one of them. Enjoy the weekend surround by your pretty spring blooms.

I use our things too!I know you do also..it shattered in so many pieces..on concrete..so nice to have found a replacement:)Pas cher..;).Jacques even loves them in those vases.There is a caveat..once they settle..they take certain froms..each and everyone of them..so replacing the water is a nono..:(Have a lovely Texan weekend!

I'll have some of those CC Cookies with glass of cold milk please :) My small garden has some Tulips and I never thought of picking them and bringing them indoors, you make yours look so stunning, def. pretty in pink. We've had a decent Spring so far but this weekend we have winter with cold rainy/snowy winds but thankfully, next week we'll be enjoying some "open the windows" type of weather. Bon weekend to you too! -Bev :)

Bev..those are Costco tulips..for Mother's Day..mine..in our gardens.. are paltry this year..I think I will have 6 Parrots come back and that is it:(I pulled about about 50 that were leaves only this year..no idea why.:(

Tulips are a favorite. I miss that I can't plant them here. I did the first year and the deer ate them right up. Now only daffodils and they are quite done. Other beauties to make up for them. The azaleas are starting to bloom now and the pink and magenta are gorgeous. I loved your comment about Olli and the pineapple. Perfect. I love all of your baking. My Mum is the baker of our family. I never seem to find the time. Maybe someday. Loved the photo of the fern unfurling. Have a wonderful weekend my friend. xo

It is spring up your way for sure! It's great to be out there again. I have been out there too. Not much baking going on here, we are trying to be good as I have been out in the garden too much. Yesterday we had a good soaking rain so that should help make weeding easier. Enjoy your weekend.

I bake far less in summer...but I know I love it because I still do..Jacques loves a sweet and is trim trim..but more time is spent outside than in for certain..hope you share some of your garden pics with me:)

Monique, your flowers are gorgeous. I know spring has been a long time coming. Look at the beauty around you. Best chocolate chip cookies, I shall try them. I always wonder what changes we can make to this cookie. The Costco tulips are beautiful. They do have lovely flowers, but I did notice prices re going up. Sorry to hear one of your vases broke. Your fishbowl design really showcases the tulips. Happy weekend.

Oh Monique, you have shared some breathtaking photographs again! Thank you! Always a breath of fresh air when I visit you! I'll be by soon for some cookies, my all time favorite cookie! And oh my heavens, tulips, be still my heart! Have a beautiful day, sweet friend~Nancy

You know what??? I did not treat myself to any cut Tulips this year, either!Yours look fabulous...how nice of J!My girls have kept me in cut and potted flowers since coming home from South...I am so spoiled!!I found a recipe for shortbread chocolate chip cookies...probably from your blog...I must make them!!The cottage weather was crazy...Friday we did the lawns...whipped etc...but the wind was relentless...Rained and thundered overnight...Saturday offered some of the highest waves I have ever seen out there...GEESH!!We slept late...puttered around...drove home around 4...Still awful here today...as I am sure it is there...Miss V and Erika on their way1!Enjoy your Sunday Monique...Cheers!Linda :o)

It's so windy and chilly..windy enough to dehorn bulls( I don't think the translation works from French..but you get it:) )

I know lucky you and a florist in the fam!And now a gardener;)We may get...................................................................................................................................................snow.AARRGH.You too ..have fun w/ the girls!

Your photographs are beyond beautiful! I love the fronds unfolding...as well as the flower with the critter. Sorry that you lost a favorite vase. I know that empty feeling when you lose a special something. Happy to see that you found another.

Aww your tulips are gorgeous and I do love the big bowl - so sorry about the other one. The cookies sound great but the peeks of springtime flowers was more than enough to make me happy! Lovely, lovely photos.